John
Elliot, Director of Internal Audit, discussed his office’s operations.The Internal Audit Department’s mission is to
provide independent, objective, assurance, and consulting services designed to
add value and improve the University’s operations.Internal Audit helps the University to
accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to
evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and
governance processes.Internal Audit
assists University management and the Board of Trustees’ Audit Committee in
identifying, avoiding, and mitigating risks.

The
University must maintain the confidence of its Board of Trustees, faculty,
staff, students, alumni, the public, elected officials and various other
constituencies if it is to accomplish its threefold mission of teaching,
research and public service.The
Internal Audit Department provides valuable support in maintaining its
constituencies’ confidence by performing independent and objective reviews, and
reporting to the Audit Committee and responsible administrative and academic
officers on their findings so that corrective actions or enhancements can be
initiated.

Brainstorming Sessions

The Provost’s Office sponsored two
sessions, during which humanities and social sciences faculty members discussed
how to apply for funding in related fields.The session on humanities funding took place on January 31 and the
session on social sciences funding took place on February 8.

Multidisciplinary Projects

The Provost’s Office is continuing to
explore three multidisciplinary topics: quantum information science, synthetic
biology, and engineered materials.Teams
meet regularly to work on the projects.Each team will prepare a white paper as a plan for future research.

Office of Research

Allen DiPalma, Director of the Office
of Research, discussed a number of items that are related to the Office’s
operations:

·An Office of Research portal is now
located on my.pitt.edu.It provides
links to information that researchers and research administrators regularly use.

·OMB’s A-21 task force is discussing how
to reduce the administrative burden associated with completing the form.

·Those ARRA grants that had been
scheduled to go beyond September 30, 2013, must be completed prior to that
date.

·The salaries of secretaries and clerks
are usually treated as indirect costs, not charged as direct costs, except
under special circumstances.